Global influence of soil texture on ecosystem water limitation.

Low soil moisture and high vapour pressure deficit (VPD) cause plant water stress and lead to a variety of drought responses, including a reduction in transpiration and photosynthesis. When soils dry below critical soil moisture thresholds, ecosystems transition from energy to water limitation as stomata close to alleviate water stress. However, the mechanisms behind these thresholds remain poorly defined at the ecosystem scale.

as a novel next generation probiotic against influenza.

The gut-lung axis is critical during viral respiratory infections such as influenza. Gut dysbiosis during infection translates into a massive drop of microbially produced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Among them, butyrate is important during influenza suggesting that microbiome-based therapeutics targeting butyrate might hold promises.

Shotgun metagenomics and systemic targeted metabolomics highlight indole-3-propionic acid as a protective gut microbial metabolite against influenza infection.

The gut-to-lung axis is critical during respiratory infections, including influenza A virus (IAV) infection. In the present study, we used high-resolution shotgun metagenomics and targeted metabolomic analysis to characterize influenza-associated changes in the composition and metabolism of the mouse gut microbiota. We observed several taxonomic-level changes on day (D)7 post-infection, including a marked reduction in the abundance of members of the and families, and an increase in the abundance of .

Depletion of preexisting B-cell lymphoma 2-expressing senescent cells before vaccination impacts antigen-specific antitumor immune responses in old mice.

The age-related decline in immunity reduces the effectiveness of vaccines in older adults. Immunosenescence is associated with chronic, low-grade inflammation, and the accumulation of senescent cells. The latter express Bcl-2 family members (providing resistance to cell death) and exhibit a pro-inflammatory, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP).

Removal of senescent cells reduces the viral load and attenuates pulmonary and systemic inflammation in SARS-CoV-2-infected, aged hamsters.

Older age is one of the strongest risk factors for severe COVID-19. In this study, we determined whether age-associated cellular senescence contributes to the severity of experimental COVID-19. Aged golden hamsters accumulate senescent cells in the lungs, and the senolytic drug ABT-263, a BCL-2 inhibitor, depletes these cells at baseline and during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Measurement of Acceleration Response Functions with Scalable Low-Cost Devices. An Application to the Experimental Modal Analysis.

One of the most popular options in the Structural Health Monitoring field is the tracking of the modal parameters, which are estimated through the frequency response functions of the structure, usually in the form of accelerances, which are computed as the ratio between the measured accelerations and the applied forces. This requires the use of devices capable of synchronously recording accelerations at several points of the structure at high sampling rates and the subsequent computational analysis using the recorded data. To this end, this work presents and validates a new scalable acquisition system based on multiple myRIO devices and digital MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical System) accelerometers, intended for modal analysis of large structures.

Design and Validation of a Scalable, Reconfigurable and Low-Cost Structural Health Monitoring System.

This paper presents the design, development and testing of a low-cost Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system based on MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) triaxial accelerometers. A new control system composed by a myRIO platform, managed by specific LabVIEW software, has been developed. The LabVIEW software also computes the frequency response functions for the subsequent modal analysis.

Efficacy and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops in paediatric population with purulent bacterial conjunctivitis.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops in a paediatric population with purulent bacterial conjunctivitis.

Patients And Methods: This was a multicentre, international, randomised, investigator-masked study in 286 children with purulent discharge and bulbar conjunctival injection.

Safety and efficacy of unpreserved timolol 0.1% gel in patients controlled by preserved latanoprost with signs of ocular intolerance.

Purpose: To assess the safety and efficacy of unpreserved timolol 0.1% gel in ocular hypertensive (OHT) or glaucomatous patients controlled by preserved latanoprost 0.005% but with signs of ocular intolerance.

Efficacy and safety of preservative-free latanoprost eyedrops, compared with BAK-preserved latanoprost in patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma.

Aim: To compare efficacy (intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction) and safety of preservative-free latanoprost (T2345) to benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved latanoprost (BPL; Xalatan) in ocular hypertension (OHT) or primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

Methods: Prospective, international, multicentre, randomised, investigator-masked, parallel-group trial. After a wash-out period, POAG or OHT patients, previously managed by BPL monotherapy, randomly received T2345 or BPL (one drop into the affected eye(s)) once daily from D0 to D84.

Efficacy and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops for purulent bacterial conjunctivitis in pediatric patients.

Background: Purulent bacterial conjunctivitis affects all ages with high frequency in newborns and children. In a subset of 150 children included in a large study having enrolled 1043 patients, our aim was to analyze in children, the efficacy and safety of azithromycin 1.5% eye-drops in the treatment of this disease.

[Evaluation of NAAGA efficacy in dry eye syndrome].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of Naabak((R)) eyedrops in reducing inflammation in dry eye syndrome.

Patients And Methods: This pilot, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel study was carried out in adult patients suffering from moderate dry eye syndrome. Patients were treated for three months with preservative-free NAAGA (Naabak((R))) or with sodium chloride 0.

Microbiological efficacy of 3-day treatment with azithromycin 1.5% eye-drops for purulent bacterial conjunctivitis.

Purpose: Antibacterial efficacy of topically applied azithromycin 1.5% was compared with tobramycin 0.3% in a multicenter, randomized, investigator-masked study for the treatment of purulent bacterial conjunctivitis.

Tear concentrations of azithromycin following topical administration of a single dose of azithromycin 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% eyedrops (T1225) in healthy volunteers.

Purpose: To evaluate azithromycin tear concentrations after one drop of T1225 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.

Clinical and biological efficacy of preservative-free NAAGA eye-drops versus levocabastine eye-drops in vernal keratoconjunctivitis patients.

Aims: This comparative and randomised pilot study assessed the clinical and biological efficacy of Naaxia Sine(R) eye-drops versus levocabastine eye-drops in the treatment of vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC).

Methods: Twenty-three VKC patients were randomised and treated bilaterally for 28 days with N-acetyl-aspartyl-glutamate (NAAGA) or levocabastine (LEVO) eye-drops. The primary efficacy variable, overall evolution of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) tear concentrations, was assessed in a masked fashion on D0, D7 and D28.

3-day treatment with azithromycin 1.5% eye drops versus 7-day treatment with tobramycin 0.3% for purulent bacterial conjunctivitis: multicentre, randomised and controlled trial in adults and children.

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of Azyter, azithromycin 1.5% eye drops, for 3 days with tobramycin 0.3% for 7 days to treat purulent bacterial conjunctivitis.

Efficacy and safety of short duration azithromycin eye drops versus azithromycin single oral dose for the treatment of trachoma in children: a randomised, controlled, double-masked clinical trial.

Aims: Efficacy and safety of a short-duration treatment of azithromycin 1.5% eye drops versus oral azithromycin to treat active trachoma.

Methods: Randomised, controlled, double-masked, double-dummy, non-inferiority explanatory study including 670 children from Guinea Conakry and Pakistan if: 1-10 years old; active trachoma (TF+TI0 or TF+TI+ on simplified World Health Organisation (WHO) scale).

Comparison of a non-preserved 0.1% T-Gel eye gel (single dose unit) with a preserved 0.1% T-Gel eye gel (multidose) in ocular hypertension and glaucomatous patients.

Aim: This comparative, open design, phase III study was to assess the non-inferiority of the non-preserved T-Gel 0.1% single dose unit (SDU) versus its preserved multidose (MD) reference.

Methods: 175 patients with bilateral POAG or OHT were randomised: 87 patients were to receive one drop daily of T-Gel 0.

Effect of povidone 2% preservative-free eyedrops on contact lens wearers with computer visual syndrome: pilot study.

Purpose: To show that the use of povidone 2% preservative-free lubricating eyedrops reduces computer visual syndrome in contact lens wearers and to identify the best eyedrop instillation protocols.

Methods: The test product was FILMABAK a CE-marked nonpreserved lubricant, povidone 2% delivered by the ABAK system. Three dispensing modalities were evaluated during contact lens wear and computer use: hourly instillation, symptom-related instillation, and patient's own instillation.

Optic neuropathy in cancer patients. Report of a case possibly related to 5 fluorouracil toxicity and review of the literature.

We report the case of a 72-year-old woman suffering from bone metastatic breast cancer and treated with continuous intravenous 5 fluorouracil (5FU) chemotherapy, who presented with a bilateral asymmetric anterior optic neuropathy (ON). A deficiency of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) was documented. Patients with DPD deficiency are at increased risk for developing unusual and/or severe toxicity to 5FU.

Frequent discordance of the light-chain isotypes expressed by serum monoclonal components and leukaemic B-cells.

In B-cell malignancies, it is generally held that the monoclonal components (MC) are produced by the malignant clones. Genetic relatedness implies the concordant expression of light-chain (LC) isotypes in the MC and at the surface of the malignant lymphocytes. We reviewed a series of 91 B-cell leukaemias, immunophenotyped by flow cytometry in our laboratory.

[Acute portal thrombosis revealing hereditary hemochromatosis: report of a case].

The authors report the case of a 49-year old man in whom an inaugural portal vein thrombosis led to the diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis. In this case, the increase in ferritinemia and the T2-weighted MRI hepatic segmental hyposignal were considered as consequences of tissular necrosis while they did probe a real iron overload. Genetic testing, revealing C282Y/H63D compound heterozygoty, provided evidence for a diagnosis of hereditary hemochromatosis.